The World | IN BRIEF / TAIWAN

Marchers Seek Right to Hold Referendums

More than 100,000 people marched in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung to demand the right to hold referendums and support President Chen Shui-bian, who has called for such votes to be allowed and the constitution to be revised.

Chen's calls have incurred the wrath of China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province and has refused to rule out the use of force against the island.

Opposition parties have opposed referendums because they fear that Chen's party might hold a vote on whether Taiwan should reject unification with China.

Chen, facing a tough election in less than six months, told supporters: "Taiwan is a sovereign country. We are not part of something else, we are not a provincial government."